Lab Week 2026

Where Science Meets Creativity

Treats brought by CSMLS Angoff Panel participants to celebrate Lab Week 2026

National Medical Laboratory Week highlighted the important role you play in supporting patients across Canada. This year, we celebrated your commitment and consistent care for patients. From the moment a baby is born to end of life care, you are a key member of every patient’s health care team, at every stage of their life.

CSMLS Lab Week poster of a woman in a lab coat surrounded by different human life stages

CSMLS Poster for Lab Week 2026

This year, a record number of 81 Canadian landmarks shone an indigo spotlight on you and your work. From the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria, BC, to the Confederation Building in St. John’s, NL, to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife, NT, Canada shone brightly from coast to coast to coast.

CSMLS staff wearing parkas crouching in front of High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta

High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo courtesy of Valentino (Tino) Villatoro

Medical lab professionals, their friends and families standing in front of the Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario

Medical lab professionals, their friends and families celebrating Lab Week at the Big Nickel in Subdury, Ontario. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Nikki Laidley

Night view of the Central Bridge in Carleton Place, Ontario

Central Bridge in Carleton Place, Ontario. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Lori Bates

This year, instead of asking you to set aside time to order Lab Week swag online, every member received a Lab Week pocket protector, pen and poster to commemorate this special week. We also opened a pop-up shop in February, offering special items designed to show off your pride — many of you got your hands on a special edition Lab Week t-shirt!

Purple CSMLS t-shirt with white type that reads: Every patient, Every test, Every stage of life.
White plastic pocket protector with a purple pen lying over top. Both have CSMLS branding on them

Lab Week goodies offered in the pop-up shop and sent to members with their Spring Journal copies.

To help you celebrate with your peers, we prepared a new Digital Toolkit that included: a brand-new Kahoot game to help you test your lab knowledge in a fun way, Lab Week bingo cards, a spot-the-difference challenge, and made-for-you Mad Libs templates. These were posted at labweek.csmls.org to give labs easy access to fun activities without having to spend extra time on planning.

We invited all members to participate in our Lab Week Contests, and you exceeded our expectations! Many of you tagged us in your photos to enter the Lab Decoration and Treat Decoration Contests.

A lobby in Oromocto Public Hospital with purple and blue coloured decorations for Lab Week 2026

Oromocto Public Hospital, NB, decorations for Lab Week 2026. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Nicola Pond.

Members of Oromocto Public Hospital lab staff in lab coats and casual work wear celebrating Lab Week 2026

Lab staff at Oromocto Public Hospital, NB, celebrating Lab Week 2026. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Nicola Pond.

Plastic container filled with iced sugar cookies placed on a table

Lab Week treats at Health Sciences North Lab in Sudbury, ON. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Nikki Laidley.

Members of Cornwall Community Hospital holding containers of cookies and cupcakes and giving a thumb’s up

Cornwall Community Hospital in Cornwall, ON, celebrating Lab Week with treats. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Karen Keagan.

Health Sciences North Sudbury team photo of lab staff after winning their prize in the Treat Decoration Contest

Health Sciences North Sudbury lab staff celebrating after winning their prize in the Treat Decoration Contest. Photo courtesy of CSMLS member Nikki Laidley

Kirkland and District Hospital lab staff standing in front of colourful Lab Week decorations

Kirkland and District Hospital lab staff celebrating Lab Week. Photo courtesy of Malorie Catherine.

Members voted by liking their favourite posts. Congratulations to Nicola Pond from the Oromocto Public Hospital Lab in Oromocto, NB and Nikki Laidley from the Health Sciences North Lab in Sudbury, ON, for each winning a $100 Tim Hortons gift card to share with their labs.

Thanks for sharing, and showing, your love and pride for your profession! We hope you all had a wonderful Lab Week.